Miami Ink 101: Reality vs. Reality TV

Miami Ink is a hit reality TV show airing on TLC, but it's also a real-life tattoo parlor here on Miami Beach. In this profile, we take a behind-the-scenes look at the show and explore the real Miami Ink tattoo shop on Washington Avenue.

What It’s About:

Slightly eccentric employees of a tattoo shop in Miami Beach ink interesting customers with wild body art.

How Each Episode Unfolds:

Each show, three or four customers come into Miami Ink, a tattoo shop on Washington Avenue on South Beach, and ask for tattoos of varying sizes and shapes. All of the customers arrive with a story about why they want a tattoo, and end up sharing their tales of love, loss and triumph with the artists as they are inked. The six well-known tattoo artists who work there also have their own dramas (personal and professional) that unfold throughout the show. Warning: this program contains endless shots of beautiful Miami residents and even more gorgeous city/beach scenes.

Why You Should Watch:

The show highlights some of the most beautiful and unique tattoo designs around. It’s also interesting to watch the tattoo artists interact with each other; after all, the show is as much about tattooing as it is running a small business. Watching the artists fight with each other over petty things (Chris Nunez once bought an expensive new truck, which annoyed the others) is a little voyeuristic, but entertaining nonetheless.

Why You Shouldn’t Watch:

If you dislike tattoos, you will hate this show. There’s lots of close-ups of actual tattooing, with blood and ink everywhere. Also, the show’s highlighted stories – people getting tattoos to mark life changing events – can be a little overwrought.

The Artists:

Kat Von D
Ami James
Chris Garver
Chris Nunez
Darren Brass
Yojiro “Yoji” Harada

The Real Miami Ink:

The shop is owned by Ami James and Chris Nunez. If you visit – either for a tattoo or just a look around – you may not see any of the cast members. Kat Von D and Chris Garver, for instance, live and work in L.A., and only fly to Miami to film the show. Other artists often do celebrity appearances out-of-town and are busy with other projects. The artists promote their own designs on everything from T-shirts to an Ami James-designed, dragon-engraved Moto Razr cell phone.

If You Go:

The Miami Ink shop is located at 1344 Washington Ave in Miami Beach. It’s open Monday-Friday from 9 p.m. until 12 a.m., and Saturday and Sunday 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. They do not take appointments – walk-ins only. They will not do any price quotes on the phone or via e-mail. The tattoos are priced by the piece and there is a minimum of $200 per tattoo. The phone number for the shop is (305) 531-4556.